The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-01-28
HER BOATMAN.

dark and sullen, moved in its rocky bed
like some gigantic serpent half over
come by the lethargy of sleep.
Here and there the ~moonbeams fell
upon the surface of the water, great
spots of silvery wilderness, amidst the
dark shadows cast by the heavy foliage
of the cedar s%hrubbery which grew be-
tween the almost perpendicular rocks of
the high banks.
Fifty feet above the surface of the
water they reared themselves, and at
one point they iutted forward as if to
salute each other, while the river be-
meath them deepened and narrowed.
At this point q bridge had once been
thrown across-a bridge which had be-
come a complete ruin, m timber alone
remaining to mark the spot, one long
and narrow beam--it could not have
been more than six inches in width
still maintained its place, and in mute
language informed the stranger that
once there had been connection be-
tween Rocky Hill and the mountains
on the other side.
Upon the surface of the river there
was a small rowboat, containing a Slen-
der, crouching form wrapped in a dark
cloak.
From the top of the bank upon either
side this rowboat would have been in
visible, but it was there, making its
way up and down past the rocky butt
reSs which upheld the beam, always
avoiding the moonlit spots upon the
river.
The sounds of ~carousal were usurp-
ing the place of the quiet of the night,
the drunken jest and the course laugh
ter breaking in upon the sentimental
notes of Home, Sweet Home" sung,
you would have averred, by some lone
~ youth who was far from the scenes
of his bo~yhood-came plainly to the
ears of this silent watcher upon the riv-
er. who, it seemed, could not tear her.
self away from the sounds which came
from the saloon upon the rivers bank.
Once only did the raoonbeams fall
upon her fair, upturned face.
1t was the face of a woman who
should never have been in that wild,
lonely spot, listening for the sound of
a voice that had grown to address her
with refined words which were the
c~ruelist of the cruel, waiting there up
on that lonely river, for -she knew not
what.
Muriel Warner was the daughter of
wealthy parents. She had married,
when very young, a man whom she
had ~worshipped as the embodiment OF
manly worth and the perfection OF
manly beauty. Friends and relatives
had crowded about her with envious
congratulations, and for a time her
life was perfect happiness.
But a change had come. Fred War.
ner was not what he had seemed. On.
ly Q few short weeks of happiness, ana
the handsome husband plunged into
the widest dissipation. Friends re.
manned to her as long as the money re.
manned, and then they began to hint
that perhaps Muriel was not altogether
blameless-
This was something which the spir-
tied wife could not stand. She broke
with relatives and friends. and chung te
the dissipated man who was her hus
band. From one city to another he had
dragged her with him, and now he had
deserted her and she had followed him
His was the cultured voice, which
warbled of Home, Sweet Home
while his wife was a penniless, half
crazed creature, out upon the river.
And she was penniless, for, regard
less of food or shelter, she had paiC
out her last cent for the use of tn,
boat which brought her, unseen, ye'
nearer to him.
A quick, sharp report broke in up
on the mellow voice of the singer.
1t was repeated again and again.
1t was the report of q revolver
Meriel could hear the excited shouts
the heavy trampling of feet, the bang
ing of door. and then the weird cry
.Murderr"
Half paraIyzed, the frightened wo
man rested upon her oars Just undel
the beam which had once belonged :,
the old bridge.
The sound of heavy feet, rapid,
approaching. came from the banl
close at hand. and then adark form
rushed out between her and the noon
liz sky above her.
It was q mans figure, and he was at
tempting to cross the river upon TIL
marrow beam.
Excited shouts and the tramp o
hurried feet followed him to the river
brink
..Stop!" shouted q voice. ~ arres
o for murder
No reply came from the escapin
figure, which sped nimbly along il
narrow way.
A sharp chorus Of revolyers follow